Centrifugal fan manufacturing



Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 16 Sheets-Sheet l 37 \L'lf IV i L d L i /a I .n mukgg 1a INVENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTLING 6 BY WILLIAM P. POWELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w H wENTLlNG ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-3 INVENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTLING a BY WILLIAM R POWELL WM MM ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w H, WENTUNG ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 INVENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTQING 8 WILLIAM F. POWELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING l6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 hmm mmw mm mm mm 5 Nm 0% INVENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTLING 8 ATTORN EYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLIING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9. 1962 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG? 52) I06 78 34 FIG-8 52 IN VENTORS i x I I 307 WILLIAM H. WENTLING & {g5 BY WILLIAM P. POWELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w WENTUNG ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING 1.6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Aug. 9. 9

FIG

FIG-12 INVENTORS a L Y mu E U W V W To MO N P E W WP M A H A M U m H M W Y DD "w 7 2 Feb. 28, 1967 W. H. WENTLING ET AL CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING l6 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed Aug. 9. 1962 a W .L

mmL aw.

OIE E TLW N E P O N w P W mu u w M Feb.28,19e7 w. H. WENTUNG Em 3 3 CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 35' H 33 25 IO 35 355 I 390 39' "mun" FIG-22 INVENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTLING 8 BY WILLIAM P. POWELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w WENTUNG ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9. 1962 ,16 Sheets-$heet 9 FIG 23 388 420 INVENTOR-S WILLIAM H. WENTLING 8; BY WILLIAM P. POWELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w, H. WENTLING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 IN VENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTLING B BY WILLIAM F! POWELL W Mw ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 SIO.

FIG 30 L PRESS 1" E 1': M E 1' 47 H H 626 R b MlRb i 25' 3 /'R|O 623 INDEX L sazh 5 27 mac SPIN -I 4 w STOP PRESS MOTOR FWD. Mmc

5| I H PRESS MOTOR MIFQ 59o F5593 PRESS MOTOR REV. MIFC W H PRESS MOTOR STOP SPIN MOTOR START 5'5 LL SPlwTOR M2b s 607 03 M608 J STOP 5'? INDEX MQ TOR START INDEX MOTOR 6 V M3b 609M INVENTORS MIFb ;6 Sheets-Sheet l 1 WILLIAM H.WENTL|NG 8 WILLIAM P. POWELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLING E AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 FIG -3I gas 507 I SIS 414 RI7 I 519 L CW 9 CLQSED w CLOSED WITH 3 SPIN CARRIAGES DRIVE HEADS cow 3 BACK 355 BACK 62o 521a RI6CI fivwwwwHk II I s-sI I f' CYCLEe Red R30 I s5 LS-3'LS-3I LS-T INDEX INDEX I I 1 535a CLUTCH I I I I I 6ZO- 35\ I I I I 5 I I I RIC I Y l I I I I I I II-I. I I I I I I RId. R20. 636

I "755' I I I R2b Raf a; I I I 750 I I I I "640 756 I I I I J'- I I I I R20 I I I. I *4 I 642 522 I I I I g I I I l RESET I I I I 760 SZZaI I I RI8Q I I CYCLE START I I I MIFd J6I5 I 523 I A I I HFJI AUTO 7 R3 I 73a 5 55p I IQ I ,II I MAN. I 524 RI5C 645 I I N RESET I Rl8b I INVENTORS I WILLIAM H. WENTLING a I J BY WILLIAM E POWELL l I I wazMm a ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9. 1962 16 sheets sheet 14 FIG -33 I M L652 Q +700 I702 I BACK PLATE I BACK PLATE VF j, 705 f LOCATED 795 I 706 708 537 GIS I 615k H I... I z .L .I R9 1 -H H if SPIN RIO Wi' R b Rab CARRIAG Es 388 FWD. I ll 54' I Tsb SPIN Q4 507 X730 L8 4 LS 4A BES N K RI3C CLOSED WITH SPIN CARRIAGES FWD. LOCK PINS IN I LS-B LS-8A 4| RIZ DI-$ M Rl3d SPIN CLUTCH CLOSED WITH LOCK PINS IN '7IO\ SPIN ROLLS UP LS-G 544 CLOSED WITH $P|N ROLLS UP SPIN ROLLS DOWN TOR-2 SPIN CARRIAGES BACK 5480 II II 770a R4 a R|9 1 ccw DRIVE HEAD FWD. w IL 550 D .L j w 1 R41) RIm cw DRIVE HEAD FWD. I? v INVENTORS WILLIAM H. WENTLING 8 BY WILLIAM E POWELL I Wm & MA ML I I? ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Qriginal Filed Aug. 9, 1962 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 '34 l 770 v 55' F J; 55C%/ 4i I I II II b I 7705: R71) ccw DRIVE HEAD BACK 552 Ir AI 552?] H- SEL. SW. R76 Rng DRIVE HEAD cw DRIVE HEAD BACK 355 FWD. BACK 5530 553 l 775 {I I j I I v 554 l R.H. SPIN CARRIAGEFWDI 555 ZEJ H 555 l/ 55s 4 mob L.H. SPIN CARRIAGE FWD.

5600 56 778 4 mm LOCK PINS m SEL. SW. Rub

LOCK PINS SPIN CLUTCH IN OUT I 4] 563 MZC RIZO. 5 3 I 7808, L TDRlCl 554 P5 SPIN ROLLS UP 565 l mm]: L 5650 I- u (78 b 565 SEL S m SPIN ROLLS DOWN KNOC'K R131 ccw KNOCK OUT FWD. 57o FWD-OFF {IL F7027 5- Rl4Cl 656 7k g'xgi gg R m7] cw KNOCK ou r FWD.

4| 573 m l ,784 w RIOC R.H.SPIN

R.H. SPIN HEAD fg d CARR'AGE BACK 574 BACK "r /0 575 W RlOd L.H. SPIN LfH'SPI'N me CARRIAGE BACK I R|5 CARRIAGE BACK INVENTORS 578 RE! 57 RH WILLIAM H. WENTLING a R1 7? SPEED CONTROLS BY WILLIAM P. POWELL sPm CARRIAGES I I-I W II wwwl ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. WENTLING ET AL 3,305,912

CENTR IFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING Original Filed Aug. 9, 1962 1,6 Sheets-Sheet 16 FIG 35 7408 740a Z7 740 l "C627 75 |I---'?'41-O I 3-;-; 7405 .17 '75s I I 740 a i 75o- I 758 I O; 1 B {r 227 INCH Pos. TOP STOP POS. ONCE POS.

I SPIN MOTOR G 9 915:5555 CLUTCH GIBRAKE m I V 946 v I a L g g.) P g g g g I E 90I- I 7 cw 5480 5500 ccw KNOCK OUT C KNOCK OUT ,900 903 5700 I I": L. g I I I 920 g 34? ccw DRIVE /U [a 355 cw DRIVE @L 5520 55 v 574-0 I 573 v s 955 L 383 I I L 380 408 I p L4 926- L L 408 g m R7! i LQI E11 935 I R.H. CARRIAGE 388 5 L.H. CARRIAGE 338 470 INVENTORS 5650 WILLIAM H. WENTLING & 563c 5 487k BY WILLIAM P. POWELL SPIN CYLINDER MyW ATTORNEYS United States Patent G 3,305,912 CENTRIFUGAL FAN MANUFACTURING William H. Wentling and William P. Powell, both of Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Lan Blower Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application Aug. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 215,988, now Patent No. 3,253,318, dated May 10, 1966. Divided and this application Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,682

6 Claims. (Cl. 29-235) This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 215,988, filed August 9, 1962, now Patent No. 3,253,318, issued May 10, 1966 and assigned to the assignee of this application.

This invention relates to multiblade centrifugal fans of the type commonly known as blowers, and to rotors or blower wheels therefor.

More particularly, this invention concerns a new centrifugal blower wheel and the automatic manufacture thereof, which includes theproduction of individual glades, the mounting of these blades on a fixture in a predetermined relationship corresponding to their relative positioning in the blower wheel, and the securing of an end ring and back plate on opposite ends of these blades while on the fixture thus forming a finished blower Wheel. The apparatus or machinery which performs the above operations is also capable of manufacturing blower wheels having difierent diameters, number of blades and blade lengths, as well as blower wheels for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation while requiring a relatively small amount of time and attention by a single operator. In addition, this machine permits a wide selection of materials from which the blower blower wheels so-that the rate of production is increased I above that generally known throughout the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for producing finished blower wheels from metal stock, and particularly to provide apparatus of this type which includes a control system for complete automatic operation requiring a minimum of attention from the operator, or which can be adapted for manual operation wherein the operator must manually initiate each operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture which receives, holds, and aligns a plurality of blower wheel blades in a predetermined position corresponding to their position in a blower wheel, and which is adapted to facilitate the automatic placement of the end ring and back plate on the ends of the aligned blades.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming individual blower wheel blades having complex curved surfaces thereon from various types of material, including steel and aluminum, by progressively forming the blade curves and other blade components.

It is a further object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for automatically fabricating blower wheels wherein the individual blades are successively formed, assembled and held in a desired circumferent alignment about a central axis, and then an end ri and a back plate are secured to opposite ends then thus producing finished blower wheels without requ ing more than cursory attention from the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an i proved blower wheel which is simple and 6COI101Tlll in construction, which can be made at less expense th wheels heretofore available, which has individual blac shaped to develop the most desirable performance a air delivery, and which is of high strength and rigid and capable of operating with freedom from objectic able vibration and noise at high speeds.

It is a further object to provide a blower wheel co: prised of a plurality of separate blades which are asse. bled and securely held in proper operative position wit out the use of any heating operation making possil the use of blades which have been galvanized or Otl'lt wise surface treated, and further enabling the use of nc metallic blade materials where desired, and particulai to provide blowers of this type which have superi strength, stiffness, and concentricity.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will apparent from the following description, the accompan ing drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating apparat for producing counterclockwise blower wheels in a cordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clockwise blow wheel which can be produced by the apparatus shov essentially in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparati shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the die mech nism with the top die shoe removed and the metal stoc partially broken away;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the die taken esse1 tially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 including a 8110 ing of the top die shoe;

FIG. 6 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary view of ti metal stock illustrating the various steps which are pe formed thereon as it progresses through the die;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view essentially along the lir 77 of FIG. 4 and showing the top die shoe in a raise position;

FIGS. 8 through 12 are sectional views similar to FIC 7 taken along the lines 8-8 through 1212, I'CSPCl tively, of FIG. 4 and showing the too die shoe in i raised position;

FIG. 13 is a view along the view line 13-13 c FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mar ner in which the individual blades are secured on th index heads;

FIG. 15 is a section essentially along the line 15-1 of FIG. 14 further illustrating the manner in which th blades are secured on the index heads;

FIG. 16 is a section through the index head driv mechanism;

FIG. 17 is a showing of the exterior structure of .th index head drive mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of th latches which are utilized to secure the end rings on th index heads;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of the drive keys 0] the index heads;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken essentially along th: line 2020 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is an elevational view of the lower poitior of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrating the spinning mechanism;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of spinning mechanism showing the spin carriages in :ir advanced position; FIG. 23 is a view, partially in elevation and partially section, of one side of the spinning mechanism with section being taken along the line 2323 of FIG. 24; FIG. 24 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the nning mechanism; FIG. 25 is an elevational view looking generally along view line 25-25 of FIG. 21; FIG. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of latch mechanism which engages the back plate in the ck plate guide; FIG. 27 is an enlarged view partially in section and rtially in elevation of the spin roll actuating mechism; FIGS. 28 and 29 are enlarged sectional views illusiting the end ring and back plate before and after the inning operation; FIGS. 30 through 35 are schematic views of the eleccal control system; and FIG. 36 is a schematic view of the fluid control ciritry.

General description Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred ibodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 shows a blower reel making apparatus or machine including a Ferris 1eel 10 mounted for rotation on the drive shaft 11, and Wing four radially extending arms 12 each with an dex head 15 thereon. The Ferris wheel 10 sequenrlly moves each of the index heads 15 through a series stations wherein the various components of the marine cooperate therewith to perform the steps in the aking of a blower wheel (FIG. 2). As will be seen, e machine simultaneously performs operations on a lmber of blower wheels, and produces a finished blower heel for each one quarter revolution of the Ferris wheel I. It is pointed out that the index heads 15 are identit1 and the lower case letters a through d are sufiixed lereto solely for indicating the stations at which they ave been positioned by the Ferris wheel 10.

Thus, tracing the production of one blower wheel trough the machine, the index head 15a is shown posioned at .the blade receiving station for cooperation with re press 16 which is suitably mounted in the upper poron of the machine frame F for operating a die which :ceives a strip of metal stock S (FIG. 3) through the :ar of the machine and forms individual blower wheel lades 17 therefrom. As will be seen, these blades are utomatically transferred to the index head 15a which :ceives and securely holds them in a predetermined paced relationship corresponding to their relative posions in the finished blower wheel. While at the blade :ceiving station the index head 15a is driven from the rank shaft 18 of the press 16 through the timing belt 9 and the index head drive mechanism, indicated genrally at 20, so that the rotation of the index head 15a correlated with the operation of the press 16 thus proprly aligning the index heads to receive each individual lade 17 as it is transferred from the press 16.

After the index head 15:: receives the proper number f individual blades, the Ferris wheel 10 is automatically otated through 90 in a counterclockwise direction, as iewed in FIG. 3, so that the index head 15a will now e positioned at a dead station, indicated in FIG. 3 by he index head 15b. This station is provided primarily that the three active stations may have more convenent locations, and therefore this station may be elimiiated without departing from the scope of the invention. tuch elimination would merely require the use of a Peris wheel having three equally spaced arms thereon and uitable changes in the location of the three active staions and their associated machine components.

The Ferris wheel is subsequently advanced another 0 so that the index head is now at the spinning station, indicated by the index head 15c, wherein the end ring 22 and back plate 23 are spun over the flange 24 (FIG. 28) on each end of the individual blades 17 to produce a finished blower wheel 25 (FIG. 2). Upon completion of the spinning operation the Ferris wheel 10 is indexed once again to the operators station, indicated by the index head 150., wherein the operator removes the finished blower wheel 25 and places an end ring 22 on the index head 15d for use in the production of the next blower wheel. It should now be apparent that four blower wheels 25 are simultaneously in the process of being produced since there are four stations and four index heads 15 on the Ferris wheel 10, and that for each revolution of the Ferris wheel one blower wheel is produced.

The Ferris wheel 10 is indexed or rotated between the aforesaid four stations by the motor 27 (FIG. 3) which drives the shaft 11 and the Ferris wheel 10 through the clutch-brake unit 28 and the conventional Geneva motion unit 30. The clutch of unit 28 is provided since it is not feasible to bring the motor 27 up to speed each time the Ferris wheel 10 is to be indexed, and the brake of this unit is engaged at all times except when the clutch is engaged so that the rotation of the Ferris wheel 10 is substantially prohibited except when it is being indexed. As is well known, the Geneva motion drive unit 30 provides an output speed which is sinusoidal so that the speed of rotation gradually increases to a peak and then gradually decreases to that there is no sudden or jerking movement which might cause the positioning of the Ferris wheel 10 to deviate from the aforesaid four stations.

The machine is capable of producing blower wheels having various diameters and blade lengths, as well as blower wheels for clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. (To determine whether a particular blower wheel is a clockwise or counterclockwise wheel, it is viewed in an axial direction from the external side of the back plate and the direction of rotation determined.) To illustrate the versatility of the machine, it has been shown as making a counterclockwise wheel whereas FIG. 2 illustrates a clockwise wheel. In changing the present machine from the production of counterclockwise to clockwise wheels, it is necessary to remove the Ferris 'wheel 10 and replace it in a reversed manner so that the index heads 15 are changed from the left-hand to the right-hand side of the Ferris wheel, as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus the detachable couplings 33 (FIG. 1) of a conventional type are provided in the drive shaft 11 on either side of the Ferris wheel 10 so that the latter can be readily removed and reversed or replaced.

The capability of producing blower wheels 25 of varying diameters requires that a Ferris wheel 10 having index heads 15 thereon, which correspond to the diameter of the blower wheel to be made, be provided for each diameter wheel that will be produced. The distance between the point at which the blades 17 enter the index head 15a and the axis of rotation of the index head 15c at the spinning station is the same in each of the Ferris wheels 10 so that they can be easily interchanged on the machine with a minimum of set-up time. Since this distance is held constant and the outer diameter of the index heads 15 varies with the diameter of the blower wheel being produced, the axis of rotation of each Ferris wheel 10 relative to the machine will be different for each diameter of blower wheel that is produced.

Thus the drive shaft 11 is mounted in the bearing V blocks 35 which are vertically adjustable in the track members 36 secured to the machine frame F, and the mounting plate 42 (FIG. 3) having the motor 27, clutchbrake unit 28, and Geneva motion unit 30 thereon is secured to a carriage 43 which rides in suitable guide tracks 44 so that it can be raised or lowered by turning the screw 45 to effect vertical movement in the appropriate direction thereby easily adjusting the output of the Geneva motion unit 30 to accommodate the various positions of the drive shaft 11.

locking the plug 77 against movement.

Press and die mechanism The press 16, shown in FIGS. 3-12, is driven by the motor 46 through the press clutch 48, and operates the die mechanism 50 (hereinafter called die) for producing the individual blades 17 from the metal stock S and for transferring these blades to the index head a. The die includes a top die shoe 52 which is connected to and reciprocated by the ram 53 (FIG. 1) of the press 16 and a stationary bottom die shoe 54, each having a plurality of die steels thereon which mat-e with one another to produce an individual blade 17 each time the die shoes 52 and 54 are engaged.

The press 16 may be of any commercially available design which is capable of fulfilling the herein described functional requirements, and apart from the combination does not constitute part of this invention. A conventional die feed mechanism 55 (FIG. 3) is provided for feeding the metal stock between the die shoes 52 and 54 at a predetermined rate each time the press 16 raises and lowers the top die shoe 52. For example, a suitable feed mechanism for this purpose which is commercially available is model Dickerman 6 Inch Die Feed sold by the H. E. Dickerson Manufacturing Company, of Springfield, Massachusetts.

In setting up the machine the feed mechanism is disengaged, the press ram 53 is moved to its top dead center position and the leading edge of the metal stock S is inserted into the die 50 until it engages the projection 57 on the stop 58 (FIGS. 4 and 5) supported on the rod 61 which is journalled in the support blocks 62 on either side of the path of movement of the metal stock. Then the feed mechanism 55 is engaged so that metal stock is fed automatically into the die 50 in response to reciprocation of the press 16 from this point on. Specifically, for 7 each stroke of the press 16 the metal stock is advanced a distance d (FIG. 6) equal to the length of metal required for each blade 17.

During the initial press stroke the lever 64 connected to the rod 61 is depressed manually to raise the stop 58 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, to release the leading edge of the metal stock thus permitting the feed mechanism 55 to move the metal stock between the die shoes 52 and 54. Thereafter the stop 58 rides on top of the metal stock and, insofar as the operation of the die 50 is concerned, is substantially inoperative.

At the first station in the die 50, the width of the stock is trimmed and the notch 66 is cut in each lateral edge thereof as shown in FIGS. 4-6. This is accomplished when the male cutter 68 (FIG. 7) having the notch cutting tool 69 rigidly or integrally secured in one corner thereof is forced into the complementary female opening 71 (FIGS. 4 and 7) in the bottom die steel 72 by movement of the top die shoe 52 into engagement with the bottom die shoe 54. The metal which is cut from the stock in this operation passes through the openings 71 and 74 in the bottom die steel 72 and shoe 54, respectively, to a collection hopper (not shown) positioned at some point exterior of the machine in a well known manner.

The die 50 controls the movement of the metal stock therethrough by the use of two pilot pins 75 on each side of the metal stock S, each of which engages a notch 66 and thus limits the forward, backward, and lateral movement of the metal stock so that it will be precisely positioned with respect to the various components of the die 50. Each of the pins 75 is secured on the top die shoe 52 by a threaded plug 77 which engages the similarly threaded bore 78 in the shoe 54 to clamp the heads 81 of the pins against the support block 83 which is rigidly secured to the die shoe 54, and a second plug 84 is provided for The lower portion 85 of each pin 75 has a rectangular cross-section which corresponds to the shape of the notches 66, and the nose 87 thereof is tapered or bullet shaped so that, when the pins 75 are lowered into engagement with the bottom 6 female grooves or slots 88 in the bottom die steel 9 they will engage the notches 66 and properly align tI metal stock.

A spring block 93, shown best in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, mounted on the lower die shoe 54 for raising the met stock when the top die shoe 52 is moved to the rais position thus allowing the metal stock to be advanci without interference from the various lower die steei The spring block 93 is positioned between the side blocI 95 (FIG. 4) which have the overhanging fingers 96 (PH 7) for stripping the metal stock from the upper die stee as the top die shoe 52 is raised. This block is urged u wardly by the spring 97 (FIG. 5) interposed between tl block 97 and the bottom die shoe 52, and the upwai travel thereof is limited when the shoulders 98 form: on the die steels 101 and 102 engage similar shoulde 104 on the spring block 93, as seen in FIG. 5.

A clamping plate 105 (FIG. 7) provided on the uppi die shoe 52 initially engages the metal stock and holds against the spring block 93 as the die shoes 52 and 54 a1 moved together. The plate 105 is mounted on the tc die shoe 52 by the support pins 107 which extend throug the die shoe 52 into threaded engagement with the plal 105, and the heads 106 thereon limit the downward mov ment of the plate 105 with respect to the top die shoe 51 The clamp plate 105 is substantially coextensive with th spring block 93 so that when the top die shoe 52 move downwardly, the clamp plate holds the metal stock again: the spring block 93.

The springs 108 which are interposed between the bloc 83 and the clamp plate 105 have a total effective biz which is greater than that of the springs 97 acting on th spring block 93 so that the spring block 93 is forced dowr wardly when the top die shoe 52 first contacts the meta stock. When the travel of the spring block 93 is take up, the clamp plate 105 is moved in an upward directio relative to the die shoe 52 to expose the cutting tool 6 so that the metal is held firmly in position during th trimming and notching operations. As shown in FIG. 7 the leading ends 87 of pilot pins 75 engage the notches 6 in the metal stock before the plate 105 and block 93 reaci their clamping positions so that the pins properly alig the metal stock prior to its being clamped against move ment.

The next operation is to bend or turn up the edge 0 the metal stock to a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 1 to form the flange 110 along each side of the metal stoci which ultimately forms the flanges 24 (FIG. 28) on eacl end of the blades 17. This bending operation is accom plished when the metal stock is forced downwardly onti the die steels 112, shown in FIGS. 4 and 10 which an positioned below the overhanging portion 113 of the sid blocks 95 so that the fingers 96 extend above the meta stock at this station and thus limit its upward movement The leading edge 115 (FIG. 4) of the die steel 112 is ap propriately curved so that when the complementary uppe die steel 116 forces the metal downwardly thereagainst each edge of the metal stock is turned up to form a flang 110, as shown in FIG. 6. The upper die steel 116 i. mounted on a spring block 117 which has a limiter amount of spring biased travel between the shoulders 11! and 119 of the spring block 117 and the mounting mem her 121, respectively, so that the metal stock will be hel firmly in position prior to this shaping operation. As wil be seen, the springblock 117 and the mounting member: 121 on either side thereof extend forwardly from thi: station to the cutoff station.

The next station in the die 50 performs a piercing operation which cuts the elongated slots 125 (FIGS. 4

and 6) in each side of the metal stock a short distance from the flange 110. Each slot has a curved portior 126 on the leading end thereof and defines the lateral extremities of the blade surface 127 on one side and the flange 110 on the other with the connecting portion 128 remaining between the trailing edge of the blade surface and the flange 110. As shown in FIG. 5, the

ts are cut by an appropriately shaped punch 129 ld on the top die shoe 52 by the threaded plugs 131 rich engage the similarly threaded bore 132 to clamp head 133 of the punch 129 against the support memr 134 rigidly secured to the top die shoe 52. The

.nch 129 is received in the complementary female ening 135 (FIG. 4) formed between the die steels '7 and 138, and the metal which is punched from the etal stock passes through the openings 141 to a point terior of the machine.

Next the metal stock passes through a series of blade rming stations, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the ade surfaces 127 of the individual blades 17 are proessively shaped. Thus a slit or lance 145 is first cut terally across the metal between the curved portion 16 of the elongated slots 125 by the top die steel 146 hich is connected to the upper die shoe 52 by the bolts 17 and has the cutting edge 148 thereon which co- Jerates with the bottom die steels 151 and 152. At re next station, the forward or leading edge 153 of re blade surface 127 is formed by the top die steel 54 which cooperates with the bottom die steel 155.

Then, after a dead station, the center and trailing porons 157 of the blade surface 127 together with the anted shoulders 158 (FIGS. 6 and 11) are formed by Joperation between the top die steels 161 and 162 and 1e bottom die steels 164 and 165. Each slanted ioulder is formed on a connecting portion 128 and ermits the leading edge of the blade surface 127 to be iised above the plane of the metal stock, and as shown 1 FIG. 11, the shoulder forming die steel 162 is iounted on the spring block 117 and has a downwardly xtending finger 166 rigidly secured thereto for cooperaon with the appropriately shaped groove 167 in the ottorn steels 164 and to form the slanted shoulder 58 on the metal stock. Since the die steel 162 is also iounted on the spring block 117, the finger 166 engages he metal stock and holds it firmly prior to the forming peration.

Another spring block 170 (FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 11) is irovided on the lower die shoe 54 and extends from one ide of the metal stock to the other on either side of he die steel 164 so that the metal stock in this part f the die 50 will be auomatically raised above the 'arious bottom die steels each time the top die shoe 52 s raised, thus facilitating the forward advance of the ltOCk. As shown in FIG. 8, the spring block 179 is irged upwardly by the springs 172 which are interposed )etween the bottom die shoe 54 and the block 170, and he upward movement thereof is limited by engagement )f the shoulders 173 and 174 on the side members 176 and the block 170, respectively.

The die steels 164 and 165 which coact with the fingers 166 to form the slanted shoulder 158 must be precisely positioned with respect to the finger 166 and :onsequently they are rigidly secured to the bottom die shoe 54. Thus the spring block 170 is provided with a cutout portion 177 having cross members 178 and 179 on either side of the die steel 164 (FIG. 4) so that the block 170 may be formed as a single unit. The spring block 170 has the shoulders 180 (FIGS. 4 and 8) formed therein for support of the flange 116 of the metal stock so that blade surfaces 127, after they have been formed, do not absorb the entire upward force applied to the metal stock when the upper die shoe 52 is moved upwardly causing the spring block 176 to raise the stock above the die steels on the lower die shoe 52.

After the blade surfaces 127 on the metal stock have been completely formed, they move through two dead stations above the cross member 179 of the spring block 170 into the cutoff station wherein the individual blades 17 are severed from the metal stock. For this purpose, the cutoff tools (FIG. 9) are secured to the upper die shoe 52 by the threaded plugs 187 which engage the similarly threaded bore 188 and clamp the head 191 of each tool 135 against the support member 192 which is rigidly secured to the die shoe 52.

The spring biased clamping block 117 has downwardly extending fingers 193 secured thereto which engage and hold firmly the metal stock as the upper die shoe is lowered so that it is held firmly in position prior to the cutoff operation. Specifically, as the die shoe 52 is lowered, the fingers 193 engage the stock on the inboard side of the upturned edge 116' and carry it into position on the lower die steels 194 and 195 to thereby hold it in position. As the upper and lower die shoes are moved together, additionally the cutting edge 196 of the tool 185, which is normally aligned with the fingers 193, is extended through the aperture 197 in the spring block 117 and into the slot 198 in the die steel 194, wherein it cuts the portion 199* between the notch 66 and the slot 125 from the metal stock thus severing the blade 17. The metal portion 199 cut from the stock passes through the opening 201 to a point exterior of the machine in the usual manner. The severed blade 17 is held firmly in position on the die steels 194 and 195 by the slidable plate 202 which is urged to the right, as viewed in FIG. 9, by the spring 204 interposed between the head 205 of the screw 207 and the flange portion 208 of the plate 202.

As the upper die shoe 52 moves upwardly, the pusher 210 (FIG. 5) mounted on one end of the rack 211 engages the severed blade 17 and forces it through the horizontal tracks 212, which engage the flanges 24 on each end thereof, to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. The rack 211 is reciprocally mounted below the path of movement of the metal stock and is driven by a pinion 215 which is rotatably mounted in the machine frame F below the lower die shoe 54 and is driven from another rack (not shown) secured to the press 16 :so that the rack 211 moves forward each time the upper die shoe 52 is raised, and returns as the die shoe 52 commences its downward stroke. A suitable bearing element 217 is provided for frictionless support of the forward end of the rack 211. When the rack 211 and the pusher 210 are being returned, the metal stock is in its raised position due to the action of the spring block 170 thus permitting the pusher 210 to move freely thereunder. Other drive means can be utilized to reciprocate the rack without departing from the scope of the invention so long as the above described functional requirements thereof are substantially maintained.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, after a blade 17 is moved through the horizontal tracks 212, it passes into a short section of track 220 on the pivotal mounting block 221 wherein it is aligned with the vertical track 222 formed between the elongated side members 225 and 226. When in the track section 220, pressure is exerted in a longitudinal direction on the blade 17 by the spring 227 which is interposed between the plug 228 and the piston 230 and acts through the rod 231 to urge the block 221, when pivots about the mounting pin 233, against the blade 17, thus holding it firmly in position.

As the upper die shoe 52 moves downwardly, the transfer member 235 (FIG. 5) engages the blade 17 in the track section 220 and carries it through the vertical track 222 between the elongated members 225 and 226 into holding engagement with the index head 15a, as will be described. The lower guide 220a of track section 220 has a thickness less than the upper guide 22Gb and is slightly rounded so that when the transfer member 235 engages the blade 17, it will cam the block 221 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 12) to release the blade 17. The leading edge 237 (FIG. 5) of the transfer member 235 is suitably curved and has a projection 238 thereon for engaging the rear or trailing edge of the blade 17 to prevent angular movement thereof as it is moved downwardly in the track 222. v

The track member 222 is also pivoted about the pin 233 and is biased into clamping engagement with the blade 17 

1. DIE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING INDIVIDUAL BLOWER WHEEL BLADES FROM SHEET METAL STOCK, COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER DIE SHOE MEANS WHICH ARE MOVABLE TO AND FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER, MEANS ON SAID SHOES FOR CUTTING NOTCHES IN EACH LATERAL EDGE OF THE STOCK, GUIDE PINS FOR ENGAGING SAID NOTCHES FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID STOCK, COMPLEMENTARY DIE MEANS ON SAID SHOE MEANS FOR BENDING EACH LATERAL EDGE OF THE STOCK UPWARDLY TO A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE STOCK, PIERCING MEANS ON SAID SHOE MEANS FOR CUTTING A SLOT INWARDLY OF EACH EDGE OF THE STOCK TO DEFINE THE LATERAL EXTREMITIES OF THE BLADE SURFACES EXCEPT FOR A CONNECTING PORTION BETWEEN THE LATERAL EDGES AND THE BLADE SURFACE, CUTTER MEANS ON SAID SHOE MEANS FOR SEVERING THE METAL STOCK TRANSVERSELY THEREACROSS BETWEEN THE FORWARD PORTIONS OF TWO OF THE SLOTS TO DEFINE THE TRAILING EDGE OF ONE BLADE SURFACE AND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE ADJACENT BLADE SURFACE, DEFORMING MEANS ON SAID SHOE MEANS FOR PRODUCING THE SMOOTHLY CURVED SURFACE ON THE BLADE SURFACE AND A SLANTED SHOULDER ON THE CONNECTING PORTION SO THAT THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE BLADE SURFACE PROJECTS ABOVE THE PLANE OF THE METAL STOCK, AND PUNCH MEANS ON SAID SHOE MEANS FOR SEVERING THE BLADE IN THE AREA OF THE EDGES FROM THE METAL STOCK. 